Dog Trick 2. "Close the door"

Teach your dog to close the door behind you.

This is one of my favourite dog tricks and I was amazed how easy it is to teach! This was the first trick Dexter learnt using a clicker, but you need to build this one up in steps:

• For this trick, you will need to sit on a chair next to the door and sit your dog in front of you so he is also next to the door.
• First you need to teach him to touch the door with his nose. Do this by rubbing (lightly) a treat on the edge of the door at his nose height. When he goes to smell the door, click the clicker and treat him.
• Repeat this a few times, then start to delay using the clicker and you will find he will try harder and start to touch the door harder. You need to build this up slowly and at the same time start to introduce the command word, which could be "Close the Door."
• Keep delaying the treat to encourage him to push the door harder and eventually he will learn to fully close the door.

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